Editor's note: The following letter was received too late for Monday's edition, when the Perry County News usually publishes opinion pieces. It's posted here, however, because it contains a deadline of Saturday.

Just a reminder that March 30 is the deadline for comments to IDEM about the proposed fertilizer plant (at Rockport). You would think that IDEM would automatically conduct a public hearing on facility of this size and the amount of pollution it would be releasing into the environment. That is not the case. A request for a local hearing has to be formally made.

E-mail your request and comments to dmatouse@idem.in.gov or send them by regular mail to David Matousek; IDEM Office of Air Quality; 100 North Senate Ave,; MC61-53 IGCN 1003; Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251.

The subject line should be: Request for Public Hearing and Extension of Time to Comment on Ohio Valley Resources’ PSD/New Source Construction and Part 70 Operating Draft Permit No. T147-32322-00062